Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The jurors have spoken: Manu Lefatia is 'not guilty' of all three charges that were filed against him by the government.

Lefatia was accused of taking police on a high speed chase back on Dec. 24, 2017. A jury of six — all females — were convinced by defense attorney Marcellus Uiagalelei's final argument that this was a case of mistaken identity, and the government charged the wrong man.

The verdict was unanimous, following a 3-day trial where 2 defense witnesses testified that they were playing pool with Lefatia on the evening of Dec. 23, 2017 up until the morning of Dec. 24th — the same time as the alleged chase.

Lefatia, who has been in custody, since his initial arrest, was charged with first degree assault, resisting arrest, and third degree assault.

Prosecuting the case were Assistant Attorney General Laura Garvey and Christy Dunn, assisted by Special Investigator, John Seumanutafa.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

According to Garvey, on Dec. 24, 2017 around 1:20 am, Lefatia led several police officers on a high-speed chase that almost cost the lives of two cops.

She said the chase started when Det. Justin Thomsen and Capt. Lima Togia were patrolling the Vaitogi area and observed a red mini SUV on the Iliili road heading east bound at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was heading in the direction of the airport. Several police units joined the chase.

The vehicle is alleged to have stopped twice during the high-speed chase — once in front of a store in Ottoville and then again on the Vaitogi road next to the ocean side — before taking off again to avoid arrest.

Garvey told jurors that all 4 government witnesses, who testified under oath identified Lefatia as the driver.

For the charge of first degree assault, Garvey said the evidence presented proves that officer Thomsen was injured when he was struck on the knee by the defendant’s car.

For the charge of third degree assault, Garvey said Lefatia attempted to cause injury to Officer Leulu when he sped off as Leulu tried to open the driver’s side door.

For the charge of resisting arrest, Garvey said Lefatia didn't stop the vehicle after numerous attempts by police to do so.

Uiagalelei, in his closing arguments, said the government didn't find out who the real driver was, so they turned around and charged Lefatia, who was playing pool with friends on the night in question.

For first-degree assault, Uiagalelei said the evidence presented states that the car was moving at 10-15 mph, meaning the driver was more focused on getting away instead of causing injuries to the officer.

Uiagalelei pointed out that Officer Thomsen was never admitted to the hospital nor did he ever miss a day of work because of the injury he sustained from the incident.

For the charge of third-degree assault, Uiagalelei told jurors to carefully consider the evidence which, according to him, reveals that when police units arrived at the store parking lot, the red vehicle was backing up.

While two other police officers stood on the side of the car, Officer Leulu jumped to the front of the vehicle and slapped the hood in an effort to get the driver to stop the car.

“What he did was dangerous. He placed his life in danger by jumping in front of a moving vehicle. Luckily, he was not hurt" when the car took off while his hand was still on the door handle.

Uiagalelei told jurors that all of the government's witnesses testified that it was his client who was driving the car. However, none of them looked his client in the eye.

“When I asked Officer Thomsen during cross examination who the driver of the red vehicle was, his response was, it looked like Manu Lefatia,” Uiagalelei told jurors.

“And when I asked him whether my client had any siblings, he said yes, Manu has a brother named Faafetai Lefatia, who looks the same as him.”

According to Uiagalelei, Lefatua was at home when police were engaged in a high-speed chase with a red vehicle.

"My client was not the driver of that vehicle, he was at home,” Uiagalelei said.

“This is a case of mistaken identity, and charging of the wrong person."